Sash-fastener



(No Model.)

T, G. THOMAS. SASH.I-ASTENER.

-N0. 601,310. Patented Mair. 29,1898.

WITNESSES I 11v VENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT 'rFrcE'.

THEODORE GEORGE THOMAS, OF LAMARQUE, TEXAS.

' SASH-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,310, dated March 29, 1898. Application filed February 2, 1897. Serial No. 621,612. (No model.)

- use the same.

This invention relates to the novel construe tion' in a lock or fastening device that is adapted for use in various connections such as a sash-fastener or a fastening device for a trunk, the curtain-top of a desk, and various other devices.

The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part. of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the application of the invention to .a sliding window-sash. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the manner in which the invention is applied when it is situated within a recess or pocket for the lower rail of a sash. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

It is understood, of course, that although this invention is applicable to other devices,

yet a window-sashis selected as an embodiment which clearly illustrates the principle 'of the invention.

Referring now especially to the construction shown in Fig. 1, 1 indicates the sides of the window-frame, and 2-the sash. Secured to the lower rail 3 of said sash is a spring-bar 4, held in position by means of guides 5,which may be eyes orstaples secured to said rail 3. The said guides 5, near the outer end of the sash, can be just large enough to receive the spring-bar 4, while the guides near the center of the rail permit a slight side play of said bars, as shown. The rail 3 is provided with a finger-piece 6, while the bar 4- isprovided with a finger piece 7 at-it's center. The parts are so constructed that when the ends of the spring-bar are in contact with the face of the sides of the frame said bar is curved to a certain extent, so that it exerts a pressure the sash is free to move.

sired position.

bending of the spring-bar 4.

against the frame and thus acts as a lock or fastening device to hold the frame in position. However, to hold the sash further the said frame is provided with a plurality of openings 8 to receive the ends of the springbar. These openings 8 can be mere depressions, as shown in Fig. 2, or can be formed with angular faces, as shown in Fig. 1.

In operation it is seen that when it is desired to raise the sash it is necessary only to press upwardly against the finger-piece 7, carried by the spring-bar, which bends the bar and withdraws the ends thereof inwardly and away from the face of the frame, so that WVhen released,the inherent spring action of the bar throws the ends thereof against the frame, and consequently holds the sash by friction at any de- When, however, the ends of the bar are allowed to enter the openings 8, (shown in Fig. 2,) it is obvious that the sash can neither be raised or lowered without bending the bar by means of the finger-piece 7. In this way it is seen that I provide an extremely simple and inexpensive device that effectually holds the sash at any desired point and which can be arranged either to allow the sash to be raised without the necessity of bendingthe bar by the finger-piece 7, or the construction can be such that it is necessary to bend said bar to withdraw the ends of the lever from contact with the face of the frame. The above-described constructionis espe cially useful when it is desired to apply this fastening device to window-sashes that are in use; but when made especially for asash, it is preferable to place the parts within the pocket or recess 9, as shown in Fig. 2, this pocket or recess being closed or covered in front by the front piece of the sash, which is provided with aslot 10, through which the finger-piece7 projects. The bottom of the p0cket9 is straight, while the top thereof is curved to permit the In' this construction I have shown the bar as consisting of a thin fiat piece having the heads 11 at the end thereof, which project through the small openings 12 at the ends of the pocket. Otherwise the construction and principle is the same as that described with relation to Fig. 1. Inthis construction (shown in'Fig.

2) the pocket with the small ends and wide middle portion serve as the guides 5, described in connection with Fig. 1, and are mechanical equivalents of such parts.

It will be noted that the guides for the spring-bar 4 are so disposed that said bar is held and braced in the most advantageous manner. For instance, in Fig. 1 two of the braces are situated at the side edges of the sash or as close thereto as practicable, while in Fig. 2 the contracted ends of the pocket or recess serve as the end guides. In this way the spring-bar is held against any movement whatever at the points where they receive the greatest strain. This feature is an important one, since it prevents the slighest movement on the part of the sash when it is locked.

As before stated, it is intended to apply this invention in any case where it is desired to look a sliding or movable member, and therefore it is not intended to limit application of the invention to a Window-sash, although this form has been selected for the purpose of illustration.

As shown in said drawings, the ends of the spring are provided with tips 13, of rubber or other material, to prevent injury or defacement of the window-frame.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a stationary member provided with guides, and openings in the faces of said guides, of a sliding or movable member retained within said guides, a nonrotatable and normally straight spring-bar secured within guides upon said sliding or movable member and normally projecting beyond the side edges thereof and into the openings in said stationary member, the guides for said spring-bar being elongated near the middle portion of the sliding member and at the side edges thereof reduced to prevent lateral movement of the extremities of said spring-bar, and a rigid finger-piece on the center of said spring-bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THEODORE GEORGE THOMAS.

\Vitnesses:

II. G. KENNEDY, ARTHUR BROWNING. 

